PM Modi congratulates new Afghan president

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to new Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani on Wednesday and assured him that India would stand with him as a friend and partner as his government builds a strong and peaceful Afghanistan.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to new Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani on Wednesday and assured him that India would stand with him as a friend and partner as his government builds a strong and peaceful Afghanistan.

Following the telephone conversation, the two sides have also decided to begin high-level engagements like meetings of the national security advisers and economic advisers. Ghani, described India as the “foundation of Afghanistan’s diplomacy and economic strategy”. He complimented Modi on his electoral success and his “development vision” which, he said, would be beneficial for Afghanistan and the entire region

Modi lauded Ghani’s “wisdom and statesmanship, and his commitment to unity, peace and progress in Afghanistan, which had enabled the formation of a broad- based and inclusive government and a peaceful political transition” and mentioned that his experience will be beneficial for India and the region.

“Prime Minister Modi conveyed that India will stand with him, as a friend and a partner, at every step on the way as his government moves forward in its efforts to build a strong, stable, peaceful, democratic, inclusive and prosperous nation,” said an official release.

In the first democratic transition of power in the history of Afghanistan, Ghani took over as President from Hamid Karzai.